If you ask Barbara Tate if Shelby Jean Mae Cox is her miracle baby, you may get a couple of different reactions.

The 43-year-old Austinville woman may choke up with tears. Its also possible her face might light up like the brightest sunshine. Its also conceivable you may get a combination of the two. Regardless of the reaction, you can be sure she will answer that question affirmatively.

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So will those that know her, especially Beverly Lineberry, who delivered Shelby Jean Mae Cox at Tates home on August 22, nearly three months before the baby was due.

Oh, I do believe she is a miracle baby, Lineberry said. With what shes went through, I dont see how everything has worked out this good.

Tate said she had given up on having a child many years ago, especially after she lost two different babies when she was just 21 and 23 years of age. Doctors had told her she could never have a baby, saying her insides werent developed to carry a baby.

On top of that, the Austinville woman currently suffers from several medical problems. She is a diabetic, has high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and asthma. On top of all that, Tate has two slipped disks in her back that have been bothering her quite a bit, especially since she was taken off pain medication once she learned of her pregnancy. She also suffers from cellulitis, a condition she was scheduled to have surgery for on May 16. That was put on hold as well when she learned of the pregnancy a week earlier. Additionally, Tate has a non-cancerous tumor on her left adrenal gland.

A lot of doctors kept calling me to have an abortion, abortion, abortion because of my age and all my medical problems. But I feel that God put this baby here for a reason, Tate said. Im not a murderer and I want it to be known I didnt want to have an abortion. I didnt think it was right. I have a lot of health problems and a lot of doctors wanted me to have an abortion. Im sure a lot of people would have, but this is my miracle baby. I believe that will all my heart.

On August 22, the day of the babys birth, Tate said she didnt know what was going on at first. She said her back started to hurt quite a bit for a while, but she chalked it up to the tumor on her adrenal gland. After lying down for some rest, she said she got up to use the restroom when she felt something unusual. She thought she possibly just had an accident. After a later trip to the restroom, the same thing happened. She then realized what was happening. She was having a breech birth as the babys feet were starting to come out.

Thats when I called Beverly and said, Beverly, I dont know whats going on, but I need you here real quick, Tate said. And she come running and said, Oh gosh, we are having a baby. But I didnt have to push or anything. She came right on out. I didnt feel any pain.

Lineberry laughed when asked if shed ever delivered a baby before. She said her only experience with births were confined to a puppy, kittens and a calf when she was younger. She said she was past the point of shock when she realized what was happening.

 I was past being in shock because I had run around here for months telling them I dont deliver babies. But really there wasnt time to do anything except grab the baby (because she was that far along), Lineberry said. I take it as that was an experience of a lifetime. I wouldnt change it for nothing in the world. Im just glad Barbara was all right and that baby is doing good. But I dont want to do it again.

Even members of the rescue squad that responded to the scene were shocked, Tate said.

They all stood around and didnt know what to do, she joked. Beverly had the baby wrapped in a blanket and was keeping her warm. They did still have to cut the umbilical cord, and Paul Cooper is the one that did that from the rescue squad.

After emergency crews arrived, mother and baby were both transported to Twin County Regional Hospital in Galax. Baby Shelby was later transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where she is still undergoing medical care, while Tate was kept briefly at Galax.

And then they discharged her the next morning, Lineberry said of Tate. They said she was Superwoman.

At birth, baby Shelby weighed 2-pounds, 7-ounces. She actually dropped down to 2-pounds 2.8-ounces, but has rebounded to her current weight of 2-pounds, 11-ounces. She continues to get better, and Tate is hopeful she can come home by mid- to late-October.

She started in critical care because they said they hadnt ever seen a baby that small to be a real premie baby. But she is doing good. She is considered a non-intensive care baby right now. When they took her in, she was a pre-premie, but now they consider her a premie instead of an intensive care baby, Tate said. They took the oxygen valve off of her and they took the lamp off of her and she was doing good. They have since had to put the oxygen back on her and she is still not eating on her own. They are still feeding her 3 CCs of baby formula through her feeding tube, and she will keep it for about four more weeks.

Unfortunately for Tate, her vehicle is in such bad shape it cant be driven. She has to find somebody to give her a ride each time she goes to Roanoke Memorial Hospital to visit baby Shelby. Lineberry asked if folks could find it in their hearts to add a little to the donation jars set up at different convenience stores throughout the county for Tate to help her with gas money.

If there is any way people can donate money so she can get back and forth to the hospital, that is going to be a long haul, Lineberry said.

Currently, donation jars are set up at Pure County in Austinville, Stones Grocery, Coon Ridge Grocery, Cavalier Xpress, and Hilly Haven. More will be going out soon, she said. In the meantime, Tate hopes everyone will keep her family in their thoughts.

I would like everybody to be praying for us and for Shelby to get home soon, Tate said.